Breathing Thankfulness

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

In this time of year, with Thanksgiving just around the proverbial bend, leaves falling from the trees, days shortening, and much cooler nights, we tend to be torn. Our desire is to be thankful, yet we complain about the cold, darkness, and falling leaves. What if we change our ways? What if we take Paul's advice and make the choice to always be joyful, always pray, always give thanks? What would happen?

From personal experience I can tell you that a person can choose joy. There will be moments of sorrow, but those moments don't have to last forever, nor do they get the choice to drag you down. We can choose. Hold on a moment - for those of you who are thinking "Yeah, what does she know?!" I've been there. I've suffered seasons of depression so bad that suicide looked the only way out. I've been in seasons of abandonment, depression, loss, grief... However, these things DO NOT define me. Nor do the negative things in your life define you.

In this verse is a key that unlocks the door to joy - thankfulness. When we are thankful to the Lord for the things in our life: good, bad, and ugly, He begins to do a work within us that words cannot describe. Remember, there is nothing that you will go through that God does not know about and there is nothing you will walk through that Jesus doesn't understand. If you have surrendered your whole self to Jesus and accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, you have the Holy Spirit within you and He will guide you. Do not believe the thoughts or voices that tell you 'you are alone' or 'nobody cares' or any other negative lie.

Jesus came to this earth - leaving the perfection of heaven behind - to be our example. He grew up, suffered and died at the hands of other people. In this world things can be tough, but when Jesus is on our side, we are victorious even if it doesn't feel that way. You are not alone and you are loved more than you will ever know. Remember, Jesus' story doesn't end at the grave. He rose from the grave defeating death and hell. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father and is interceding for each and every person who calls on His name. You are not alone. You are not forsaken. Choose Jesus and choose joy.

I want to encourage you this Thanksgiving and each and every day forward to choose joy by choosing thankfulness. When you're happy, thank Jesus for something. When you're angry, thank Jesus for something.When you get down, thank Jesus for something. Look around, it isn't hard to find things to be thankful for. Make thankfulness a habit. What are you thankful for today?

Trade Your Doubt for Peace

Doubt is a large issue in our world today. There is much going wrong from wildfires, to wars, from trafficking of human bodies to the selling of aborted baby parts. There are times when even faithful Christians ask, "God are you there?" Habbakuk is a great example of someone who doubted God. He is also a wonderful example to us when we may feel awkward about questioning God.

Habbakuk lived in a time when the world seemed out of control. He questioned whether God was there and if He cared. God replied and shared with Habbakuk that He was about to do some things that seemed unbelievable but in doing so, God's goal was to return the hearts of the people to Himself.

In all of this, Habbakuk decided to wait on the Lord and pray,

               "I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected," (Habbakuk 2:1 NKJV).

Is there something you are struggling with today or that you may be doubting the Lord's faithfulness in? Will you take time to "stand watch" and wait on the Lord? Will you take your questions to Him and wait for His answer? Will you trust  the Lord with all your doubts? Release them to Him today and claim the peace that He has promised. Things may not turn out the way we want, yet we can trust in Him to be faithful in all things.


May the Lord bless you and keep you, Natalie

(I highly recommend reading Habbakuk, it is a short book, packed full of truth. Blessings as you study God's Word.)

Blessed Giving

"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35 NKJV

It is at this time of year that I begin to think about what Christmas really means. Every store I go in - whether to pick up laundry detergent, ink for the printer, or milk - is clothed in sparkles, decorations, garlands, gift ideas, and Santa. I often wonder, "How did we get here? How have we as the human race (and especially Christians) gotten so far from the truth of what Christmas is about?" These thoughts challenge me to think about Jesus and His purpose and mission while He walked the dirt pathways of this earth and the mission He left all His followers with.

Jesus did not take, He gave. He was not a recipient, but a server. He left His home in heaven and became one of us that He might know the trials and temptations we all face. He ran with sinners and lowly people whom the religious people of the day didn't have time for. He didn't even have a place to lay His own head.

Christmas means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? The disaster in the Philippines makes me wonder if it is truly in our best interests to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on ourselves. What if we each took even a percentage of that money and gave it to them? Would it make a difference? What if we all did it in the name of Jesus, a gift for Him this Christmas? What if we opened our eyes to those around us and saw those in need around us and gave of ourselves this year to make a difference in someone else's life? Would that please Jesus?

Need some ideas - volunteer for a food bank, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen; give of your time and resources in your community to help the organizations that are there to fill the needs of those who are less fortunate (examples: Red Cross, Salvation Army, YMCA, Teen Challenge, pregnancy clinics, volunteer at the hospital or nursing home, rehab. centers, reach out to a family in need and provide Christmas for them...). There are many ways we can give of our time, money, and other resources.

I challenge you to begin praying about what you can give Jesus for Christmas this year. It is His birthday we are celebrating. Listen carefully for His still, small voice and give to the One who gave everything for you. May He bless you abundantly as you step out in faith and obedience.

Blessings,
Natalie

Hungry? Thirsty? Get More of Jesus!

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV

I wonder if you are like me and have read this particular verse a number of time but didn't really see the promise contained in it. Take a few minutes and read it over and over, then really meditate on it. Drink in the truth of the Scripture. God has given us His Word to feed hungry souls, to quench the thirst of our parched cravings. He has given us the answer - Himself!

Lots of times we pray for stuff: healing for our family and friends, money to take care of our needs, answers to our prayers of all shapes and sizes and such things. Have we ever slowed down long enough to think about how many times we've prayed for more of Jesus? This is truly what we need. Please don't get me wrong, Jesus told us to bring our needs to Him and we should, but in the midst of that, we need to be praying for Jesus to come and fill us will His Spirit and invade our lives powerfully. We need His empowerment to go out into this corrupt and broken world to be effective for Him. There is so much hurt and pain, yet the Lord is sufficient for all the needs out there. If we would look beyond the physical needs and pray to be used by God in His plan for our world then we would see amazing things happen for Him. He sees beyond what we see. He knows far more than we could ever begin to imagine. He sees the heart and penetrates the darkness in ways unknown to humanity. What an exciting experience to be part of!! Will you join with me in praying for more of Jesus? Will you partner with Him to do those things He calls you to do? Will you trust Him to keep His promise to do "exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think?"

I'm praying for you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie

RENEW our Pilgrimage

Each day we get out of bed and begin our day. How did you do it this morning? Did you roll out looking for your first cup of tea or coffee? Did you jump out energized and ready to get going? Did you open your eyes and praise the Lord for giving you another day, committing it to Him and praying for His direction and guidance?

We all live each day making choice after choice. Living a Christian life is more than going to church on Sunday, giving your tithe, and doing a few mission minded things throughout the year. Living a Christian life is turning it all over to the One who gave everything up for you; committing your life to the One who loves you so much that He would suffer and die for you. It is the realization that He wants all of you and nothing but the best for you.

Each day we can renew our pilgrimage by praying and seeking God's best for us. Learning to put our own agendas aside and asking the Lord to reveal His plans and people He wants us to connect with. This does not mean that we quit our jobs and forsake the things we have committed to (unless He directs us to), yet in the midst of life, He sometimes has divine appointments for us. There may be someone in your office or place of work who spends their free time alone who would really appreciate it if someone took the time to reach out and say "Hi, how are you?" caring enough to really listen. There may be a single mom in a grocery store with screaming babies who would like someone to simply smile and say a positive, encouraging word to her. There are opportunities all around us, right where we are to show the love of Christ. Are we taking the opportunity to pray and seek Jesus' guidance, are we open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (NKJV) When we give our lives to Christ and commit ourselves to Him, we are no longer the same as we once were, nor are we alone. The Holy Spirit dwells within us and we are free to obey God. Taking the time daily to renew our pilgrimage and seek guidance from Him to see what is on His agenda will help us to live abundant lives (John 10:10). Are you willing to renew your pilgrimage and commit your works to the Lord? Dwell in His ways and seek His call, obey His voice and you will have abundant living.




Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of salvation offered by Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me each day to seek Your will and Your ways. Help me Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit to see the needs You want me to fill and fill me with the boldness of the Spirit and strength I need to be obedient. I pray for Your blessing as I step out in faith to follow you. In Jesus mighty and Holy name I pray, Amen.

REVIVE our Souls

Do you know how much you are loved? Do you realize that you are precious in God's sight? Do you realize Jesus died for you-to forgive you and cleanse you of your sins?

Step back for a moment and take a look at your life. Are there any storms present, brewing, or subsiding? If so, rest assured you are not alone. Jesus is right there to hold you up, to carry you, and to be "your sufficiency". He is able and can calm the storm.

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.  And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.  Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (NKJV accessed via biblegateway.com)

These disciples were physically with Jesus, in the middle of a storm, fearful for their lives. Yet, they woke Him, trusted in Him and He brought them through it all. We can learn much from this passage. Today, I want you to focus on giving it to Jesus, whatever your it is. The fear you have, the health issues, family difficulties, financial woes, spiritual lacking, or a range of other possibilities. Give them to Jesus and allow Him to take control. Pray, listen to His instruction, obey His voice, and raise your thanks to Him through praise, whatever your circumstance. Our God is able. Jesus is mighty to save and He's just waiting for you to seek Him.

Rest in Him

I had the privilege to share at Camp Peniel (in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia) this past weekend. They host a Ladies' Spa Retreat each fall in September and they invited me to be their speaker this year. It is always an amazing time for ladies to come together, get rested, be pampered, have fun, laugh, cry, and get filled up spiritually. There were many prayers prayed as this weekend came and the presence of the Lord filled the place.

I have always been amazed each time I go there, how the Lord makes Himself so real and my heart can be stilled in the beauty of such a wonderful God-given place. His handprints are all over it. This year the theme was nautical and my topics reflected that in "Faith in the Waves". On Friday I spoke about Resting in Him, Saturday was a time to Revive our Souls, then Sunday the Lord gave us strength to Renew our Pilgrimage with Him.

Do you take time to simply REST in Jesus? Is your life just too busy? If so, today is the perfect day to go to Him and pray for rest.

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (NKJV)

 

 

Have you ever seen a yoke of oxen? How many are yoked together? Of course, two. This is how Jesus wants us to be with Him. Yoked to Him, trusting Him to direct our paths and leading us in His ways and His timing. This is where we find rest. Trusting Jesus to go ahead of us. I pray for all you dear ones that you will call on the name of Jesus, yoke to Him, and trade in your heavy burden for His light one. May you begin today resting in Him.

 

May Jesus be your joy and your strength,

Natalie

Wanted: Brokenness

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart -

These, O God, You will not despise."

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

Look at your life for a few moments. Are you taking time to seek God's will for your life or are you "going it alone"? What breaks your heart? What breaks our Savior's heart? Do these things line up or are they far off the mark?

Taking time to examine ourselves is a quality in need of development in the North American (and maybe other) church. We are constantly reminded of grace - which I am so thankful for - yet there is more than grace at work. We serve the same God as Abraham, Moses, David, Deborah,  Esther, Mary, Peter, and Paul served. The above Scripture reference comes from David's heart and reflects a brokenness that surrenders fully to the Lord we serve today.

Are you broken? If not, will you allow God to break you? He will not leave you broken but,

 "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,

 And saves such as have a contrite spirit."

 (Psalm 34:18 NKJV)

Jesus died on a cross to save all who are willing to accept Him as their Lord and Savior without prejudice. He loves everyone. His heart breaks for those who are caught in the vicious cycle of sin, whatever it is. No one is beyond help. Does your heart break at the sight of sin in the news, in your community, in your home -  I mean break enough that you give it to the Lord to be in control? Or do you desire justice - dished out the way you feel it deserves?

What if we begin to pray through the news we see on the TV, computer, or hear on the radio? What if we begin to give all those things in our lives that are not pleasing to God and allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives? What if our focus in the home started with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit rather than self? I encourage you pray, seeking the Lord's will with all your heart and allow Him to break you, then to fill you with His Spirit to be hands and feet for Him, trusting everything to His direction. It may not be easy, but remember the eternal rewards are His to give. Those are not ones which will rot, rust, or be destroyed.

May you rest in Jesus,

Natalie

The Perfect Plan

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us," (NIV emphasis added).

God has a plan for everyone. The plan He has for me probably differs from yours, as yours is probably different from the next person. Many times I have struggled with knowing God's voice and plan for my life. However, right now I am clear about the call He has placed on me for this time. Now in saying that I must tell you that knowing is not always the easiest thing. Once we know, we need to step out in faith and do. Trusting His will and plan for our lives can be difficult, but following Him is the best place to be.

Being in the Lord's will and following Jesus is not a place the enemy wants you to be. He will throw things at you and discourage you without remorse. He is the enemy of our Lord and Saviour and when you trust Jesus and step out in faith, that makes you his enemy as well. When we are discouraged and frustrated with our circumstances, we need to trust Jesus and keep our eyes on Him. Throw off the "stuff" that discourages and plow through with your eyes on eternity.

A question I learned to ask myself a long time ago is this, "Will it matter 5 years from now?" Now I have expanded that to, "Will it make a difference for eternity?" This earth we call home is temporary, yet we have the gift of eternal life thanks to Jesus Christ. Are the things you are doing glorifying Him and making a difference for eternity?

It doesn't matter where you are. God can use you to make an eternal impact if you would seek His face and trust Him with everything you are. Pray and ask Him what He wants you to do for Him. Trust in His ways and plan for your life. May He bless you.

Trusting in Him,
Natalie

Complete Trust

Today I thought it would be nice to look at some Scriptures that focus our hearts on trusting the Lord. Times can be tough. Changes come that we are not always ready for. Time continues to tick away whatever our lives are experiencing. Trusting God with our lives and all the circumstances that come our way instill a peace within that nothing else can. Are you trusting God with all the what ifs? if onlys? and every victory, question, and frustration you are encountering?

I encourage you to choose a Scripture that speaks to your heart and write it out. Put it somewhere you will read it often, then memorize it.

"In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Psalm 56:11 NASB

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

"Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him." Psalm 33:5 NASB

This is but a small sampling. Read and study the Scriptures and see what the Lord will reveal to you about trusting in Him. We serve the God of the universe. The one who sent His one and only Son, Jesus to bear the burden of sin. To be born, live, die, and be resurrected so we might find freedom from sin and be given the gift of eternal life.

Have you given your life, your all to Him? If not, my prayer for you is that you would seek Him and find Him. Pray for forgiveness of your sins and ask Him to dwell in your heart and guide your life. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:20-22 NASB

This Means WAR

Around the world, even right now wars rage on. Some are for socio-economic reasons, some for freedom, some for religious regions, some for reasons no one can seem to remember. Do you realize there is a war raging on in the unseen world all around us. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickeness in the heavenly places," Ephesians 6:12 NKJV.

Every one of us is suseptible to the fall-out from this war. Believers in Christ are the target. Because we live to glorify God, we are the enemy. Satan likes to dress himself up to appear that which he is not. He has not earned the title of deceiver for no reason. He messes with our minds and many times we fall into the trap of agreeing with him and believing those lies.

For instance, looking in the mirror, I notice the gray hairs multiplying, wrinkles where the skin used to be smooth, extra pounds pulling at the cheeks and chin-I could go on but I'm certain you understand where I'm going. There are days when the enemy will whisper something like, "You're getting old, ugly, fat and no one loves you. How can they...just look at what you've become." In that moment, I have a choice. Will I believe and agree with what the enemy of my souls says OR will I take that thought to Christ and ask Him what He says about me? The choice is mine. It is quite simple to agree and then beat myself up for not dyeing my hair, not using a moisturizer when I was younger, and not shedding those extra pounds years ago. However, that is just what our enemy wants. Agreeeing with him gives him the opportunity to further assault us and our relationship with God.

The choice we need to develop is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). In doing this, we can see what He really has to say about us.

You are made in the image of God. Genesis 1:26

He loves you so much that He died to take your place. John 316

He delights in you. Psalm 18:19

You are a friend of Jesus. John 15:15

These are just a few of the many things said about you. I encourage you to grab your Bible and read, study, meditate, and pray on the verses He shows you. When you find one that answers a negative thought you hear about yourself (or one you already believe), pray and ask God to heal your heart, mind, body, and spirit from the schemes of the devil. Give Him the permission to come in and cleanse you of your disbelief. Allow Him to fill you with the truth. Stand up to the enemy and fight. Do not allow him to manipulate and lie to you one more second. Take these thoughts to Christ. Fight the war against the enemy. Remember, we have one weapon in our arsenal; the Bible. The exciting thing is, it's the only one we need! 

I encourage your to memorize theses phrase (or better yet, look up and memorize the whole verses from the Bible) then claim them over yourself. Thanks to Jesus we can go before our Holy and Heavenly Father in prayer, trusting Him to reveal the truth. May God be with you as you walk in obedience in all you do.

With blessings,

Natalie

Wisdom in Looking Back

Hi all! I apologize for being so long since my last post. God has been doing amazing things in my life and I pray you can see Him working in yours too!! We serve a great God who is always near and always cares what we are going through. Of this I am certain. I have been reading through the Bible, following a chronological reading pattern, which I began in January. It amazes me how the Scriptures come alive each time I read it. No matter how many times I have read or studied an account or story in the Bible, each time there is a new lesson or promise to pick up. Truth is encapsulated within the covers of The Holy Bible.

I want to encourage you to pick up the Bible and begin reading it. If the whole seems too big, begin with a verse, then read a chapter, and then a book. It will amaze you how rich and wonderful the experience of relationship with God is when you read, study, and meditate on His Word. Romans 15:4 states it poetically. "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

There is wisdom in looking back. Not looking back at all the negative things in our lives, but looking back at the things God has done. When I read the account of God speaking to Moses, raising him up as a leader (as unlikely as that seemed), and giving him everything he needed to bring those people (great in number) out of Egypt and eventually to the Promised Land; well, it makes my heart race.We know He was able in Moses' time, so why do we think He is not able now? We are talking about the same God who does not change.

In Luke 1, an angel appeared to Mary, announcing that she would become mother to the Messiah. He told her, "For with God nothing will be impossible." (vs 37) If you doubt God, you may want to take the time to get to know Him better. I encourage you to grab a Bible and start reading. Pray and ask Him to open your eyes to the truth. Pray asking God to open your mind to understand all that you read. He will reveal things to you as you are ready for them. It is amazing what we can learn, how we can grow, and how much wisdom there is in studying the Word of God. May He bless you and be near you as you journey with Him.

With prayers,
Natalie

Who AM I In Christ?

Ever struggle with doubts and nagging thoughts that tell you negative things about yourself? If you do, what do you do next? Do you believe the lies of the enemy, or do you claim the truth about who you are as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ? Let's look at the truth. (There are many verses I could have used, but I chose just a few.)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2 NKJV

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 NKJV

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." 1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV

"Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him," Colossians 3:9-10 NKJV

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:29 NKJV

We have the privilege of being the living temple of the Living God. Wherever we live, whoever we are, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, He dwells within us. These are the truths and promises you can trust. When there is a voice or person telling you untruths, claim these promises and release the negative words. Train yourself to focus on the truth, no matter how loud the voice of lies are.

I strongly recommend you take these verses and memorize them, hiding them in your heart so when the poison darts of the enemy are launched against you, your shield of truth will be able to extinguish them. We need to know who we are in Christ. His promises are there for us. What He has promised, He will fulfill.


If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, yet you would like to accept His gift of salvation, there is no better time than now to do that. If you would like to, click on this link http://promisesforall.blogspot.com/2010/09/greatest-promise.html to go to one of my earlier posts that will lead you through the steps to a personal relationship with Christ. After reading it, take the time to pray through the steps simply. You do not need to use big words. The only requirements are to admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, accept the work Jesus did-dying on the cross in your place-believing him, and commit your life to Jesus, asking Him to guide and direct your life.

May God bless you abundantly. May He guide you as you grow stronger and deeper in the Word of God. Trust who He says you are.

A Giving New Year

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas season. There is something very special about Christmas, the birth of our Savior. It is celebrated for a month, rather than simply a day. However, I want you to consider this celebration to last for the whole year rather than just for a season. What a wonderful gift we have been given, the promise of eternal life for all who will trust in the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior and give their heart to Him, believe in Him, and commit their life to Him. This is not just a promise at Christmas, but for each and every day.

Throughout the past month, I blogged about giving Jesus a gift for Christmas. What did you give Him? If you haven't given to Him yet, it is not too late. Decide now and give. Sometimes when we think of tithing (giving 10%), we only consider our money. However, what if we were to tithe our time too? What if we gave to God's people of our time and resources-money and all we have? Would the face of this earth be changed? What if we gave forgiveness, love, compassion...? What if we truly began to give of ourselves without thinking about what we would receive in return?

2012 can be a totally different year from the rest. This can be a year of giving. This can be a year of selflessness, being polite, and a year of radical Christianity. What if we would start to love like Jesus? What if we took His example and truly began to live like Him?

I challenge you to live a life of giving and trusting the Lord. Give it all to Him and ask Him what to do with it. He owns it all, we are only entrusted with whatever we have for a time. When we are gone, we cannot take it with us. May God bless you for your obedience and faith.

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,"

Says the LORD of hosts,

"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you much blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it."

Malachi 3:10 NKJV

Powerful Praise

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." James 1:2 NASB

What trials are you facing today? Have you thanked the Lord for them? James admonishes us to consider it all joy when trials and hardships come along. Something from this passage of Scripture that leaped squarely off the page into my focus, and rested on my heart was the word when. James doesn't say if-he says when. Dear friend, trials will come. If you haven't encountered them yet then God bless you, however they will undoubtedly come to us all in one form or another. Likewise, for those of us who have and are encountering them now, how are we handling them?

Acknowledging His sovereignty over our lives and laying it all down before Him, that is the greatest gift we can give Him. Tough times are around us everywhere. I don't think I know of anyone who is not encountering some kind of trial at this time. Each one is very different. Each person deals with their "stuff" differently. However, don't judge a book by its cover. Realize that some are more private than others and do not want to share it. Yet, for the most part, we all struggle or have challenges of some kind.

Can you praise Him anyway? Can you lift your hands, right now wherever you are and thank God for all the things in your life, good and bad? Will you trust Him to "never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) and to be with you wherever you go? Relying on Him and going through trials will test our faith and produce endurance.

Here we have another promise. When our faith is tested it produces endurance. In order to run a marathon, we must have endurance. Like a marathon, this life on earth we have been given to live takes endurance. It is riddled with times of testing. How we go through it is what matters. Are we going to allow it to make us bitter or better? The choice is one each of us make, each and every time we come up against some kind of trial.

Let's commit to raising our hands and falling on our knees praising God through the storm, until we see the sun break through. He loves you so much. He knows every part of you, even to the hairs on your head. Trust Him. Have faith in Him. Give Him all of you.

Dear heavenly and gracious Father,
Lord, thank You for Your promises. Thank You for always being with me and guiding me through every day. Help me to trust in You more and more each day. I pray for Your guidance, wisdom and discernment as I face trials. Help me Lord, to look to You, lean on Your Word, and praise You in the midst of all that happens.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Overcoming Temptation

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

What a promise! Do you hear God's voice speaking to you through this passage of Scripture, recorded so long ago? We serve the same God today as He was yesterday, and so He will be tomorrow. That excites me and I hope it excites you too!!

Have you ever been tempted and fallen, knowing it was wrong? If so, you are not alone. However, this is not a pattern we need to continue falling into. We can pray and God can heal and cleanse us from our faults and sins. We have hope in overcoming temptations. This passage is our promise from our eternal, loving Father who wants more and better for us than we can begin to imagine.

Realize that temptation is not sin. Acting on the temptation is the sinful behaviour. Remember God's promise to always provide a way out. Will it always be easy to see and follow through? No, maybe not, but we will always have a choice. Sometimes in the midst of temptation, our emotions and feelings cloud our judgement and thoughts. It is then we need to call on the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to make the truth clear and audible. When we know the truth - that there is a way out - it is easier to find it if we will take the time to listen to the voice and nudgings of the Spirit in our hearts.

If you are struggling with temptation, take the time to memorize this Scripture verse. Write it down, put it in your phone, put it on your desktop, mirror, the dash of your car, your refrigerator. Put it in front of you, over and over until it is rooted deeply in your heart and mind. Trust in the Word of God to be your anchor in the storm. Cry out to Him when you feel the temptation coming on. Allow Him to fill the spaces in your heart and longings. He is there. His presence is what we are all searching for.

Let's pray together:

Dear glorious and gracious Father,
Thank you for Your promises that draw us nearer to You. Thank You for Your presence, for Jesus Your Son, and for the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Lord forgive us when we fall. Forgive us for giving into our temptations. Lord, come fill us with Your presence and cleanse us of the sinfulness we fall into. Lord, we pray for Your strength to overcome temptation. We pray for Your wisdom and discernment to see the way out You will provide. Father, help us to be more like Jesus, trusting completely in Your will for our lives. We love You and wait expectantly, In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

When in Doubt...Wait on the Lord!

Waiting has become part of life in North America. When we leave our homes we wait for traffic. We pick up the phone to call about anything, many times we are put on hold and made to wait. We go to the grocery store and we wait for a cashier. We even have to wait for our friends and family to finish texting, talking on cell phones or sign out of facebook. In a world where waiting is inevitable, why do we think every prayer we pray should have an instant answer?

There are things we are unsure of in our lives and we need guidance and direction. We pray and ask the Lord to give us proper discernment and wisdom and expect instant gratification. Sometimes we get an immediate answer and other times we don't. How do you react when you do not receive clear directions? Do you wait on the Lord or do you get frustrated and do whatever you think you should at the time? Learning to wait on the Lord is a discipline many of us would do well to learn.

David learned to wait on the Lord. His life was filled with times of victory, but he also had times of disobedience and discouragement. We are bound to have testing times but it is what we do with them that counts. Learn to rest in the quiet and wait on Him. When you are unsure of which way to turn or which path to take continue to love and wait on God, serve others in whatever capacity you can and share the message of hope Jesus has given you. It is not always easy, but He has promised to be with you and take you through (Hebrews 13:5).

One of David's Psalms beautifully describes this time of waiting and the victory that comes with it.

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry,

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps,

He has put a new song in my mouth-

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord."

Psalm 40:1-3 NKJV

Spirited Giving

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work," 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

God's ability to supply for our needs is limitless. He has the resources to bless us with every good thing He so chooses. Remember that truth. He chooses. This passage of Scripture helps me keep giving in perspective. That is, God wants my giving to be directly related to my heart attitude. When we give cheerfully we bring Him glory. When we don't, it reveals our lack of faith in His ability to supply our need.

There is need all around us. This morning I glanced at the newspaper and saw an article about the devastating loss of children under five in Africa. It breaks my heart. In our community-as I'm sure in yours-there are needs so great it is difficult to think about. How can we ever get to the end of it all? Maybe we can't. There is an enemy roaming around this earth and he is doing all he can to drag us to a place of helplessness. But we serve a Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is bigger than any of the loss or devastation we see, and we can each do our part.

If we keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him, He will direct and guide us to help heal some of the hurts. Provide for some of the need. Give comfort and hope to some of the lost. It begins with each of us down on our knees in prayer, seeking the Lord's will for our lives then taking the steps in obedience. A shift in our heart attitude and walk can make all the difference in the world. What if each of us did our little part? What if we took the time to seek God's face and respond to the need He has for us to fill? Life could change as we know it.

There may be a revolutionary turn-around this world has never yet seen. Let us consider verse 8 that holds a special promise. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."  Trust in Him, pray and be obedient. Trust He will provide for everything He asks of you then watch Him work. May your steps of obedience bring Him glory by making a difference in this world.

Trusting and serving my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Natalie

Full Faith

"Above all, taking that shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one," Ephesians 6:16 NKJV.

Faith is the essence of Christianity. We live by faith. We go into the unknown on faith. We trust Him by faith. Faith in the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross; dying for my and your sins. Not just in death but He rose again, victorious over death. Jesus Christ rose. He arose. He came back from death, conquering death, the grave and sin in our lives, if we will just have faith in Him.

Faith. We can have it. It is ours for the asking. Give your life to Him and He will fill you. Be obedient to His call on your life and He will never leave you. Do not trust your feelings. Feelings lie. They deceive. Trust the promises of the Bible. When Jesus promised that He would dwell within believers that is what He meant. He gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us: to guide and direct us.

Each time we follow the prompting of the Spirit our faith grows a little bit more. Our shield gets a bit bigger. Stepping out in faith is not easy, but it promises the reward of trust and growth. God never said any of this life would be easy. In fact He promised that we will have difficult times, but He would always be near us.

Have you been listening to the Spirit or do you quench it? Do you do those things the Spirit asks or do you go the other way? Have faith and follow the Spirit's leading. He will never lead you and leave you, but He will take you through whatever He is asking of you. Have faith. Follow Him.

Detour Through the Desert

Has God given you a vision of what your purpose is? Is it clear in your mind; what He has called you to do? Are things progressing as you thought they would or are you faced with nagging thoughts that maybe you heard wrong? Maybe you misunderstood.

Scripture has the ability to reveal truth in a very special way. Looking back to Exodus 13:17 we see God made a distinct decision to send the children of Israel the long way around. "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.'" (NIV)

God could have chosen to send them directly to the Promised Land, but He purposefully chose the long road. If you take the time to read through the whole account of the Israelites' journey out of Egypt in the Book of Exodus, you will find that these were a "stiff-necked" people-much like ourselves-who needed training and time in the wilderness.

It is possible God has called and shown you your specific ministry, yet things are not progressing in the way you thought they would or should. You may have your own agenda and timetable set. Be patient and accept the truth. God is not about our timetable. We see time as a hindrance but God, who created time, uses it to accomplish His perfect plan. His timing is Perfect. Perfect.

There is no use wasting your time or energy kicking against it. Accept it. Embrace the challenge and allow your desert detour to shape you gracefully in preparation for whatever the Lord has ordained your ministry. Your time will come. When it does you will be ready. He will make all things beautiful in His time. You may still have to learn some hard lessons but with His grace and by the power of the Holy Spirit that works within you, none of your obedience will be in vain.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight," Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).